Anything he can do she can better. Gemma McLean and Blair Robertson star as Annie Oakley and Frank Butler in the Union Theatre's new production of ANNIE GET YOUR GUN. Do you know who else is who in this Irving Berlin classic?
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, which tells the American Wild West story of the sharp-shooting Annie Oakley and her romance with Frank Butler, is revived at London's Union Theatre from 24 May to 17 June 2017, with a press night on 26 May.
Gemma MacLean will head up the company as the infamous, sharp-shooting Annie Oakley. Gemma most recently starred as Liz Imbrie in High Society at Sonning Mill not long after appearing as Kathy (and understudy Judy Bernley) in the National Tour of 9-5 The Musical. Other credits include The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium), Sweet Charity (Menier Chocolate Factory and Theatre Royal; Haymarket), We Will Rock You (Dominion Theatre) and Witches of Eastwick (The Prince of Wales).
Joining Gemma as Frank Butler is Blair Robertson. Blair most recently finished playing the lead role of Charlie Conrad in the five star production of Alan Ayckbourn's Drowning on Dry Land at the New Wimbledon Studio Theatre and whilst rehearsing for Annie Get Your Gun, is also shooting for the new feature film Schemers, due for release later in the year. Other credits include Mark in Chew (Etcetera Theatre), SS Captain in The Grand Tour (Finborough Theatre - European Premiere); Father Pat in Belfry (The Space Theatre); Denis in A Family Affair (Drayton Arms Theatre); Young Robert in Earthquakes in London (Broadway Theatre).
Stepping into the shoes of the notorious Buffalo Bill, Mark Pollard also joins the company. Mark most recently played Buster in the critically acclaimed production of Groundhog Day at the Old Vic and other credits include Pilate/Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar, Christopher Wren in The Mousetrap and Dustin in Starlight Express.
The company also includes Lala Barlow as Dolly, Georgia Conlan as Winnie and Dominic Harbison as Tommy. Completing the cast are Dafydd Lansley, Aneurin Pascoe, Sarah Day, Chanai Ankrah, Charlotte Alloway, Luke Jarvis, Jack Warren, Ashley Daniels and Lawrence Guntert.
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN first opened on Broadway in 1946 with larger-than-life stage star Ethel Merman in the title role. The musical was produced by Broadway legends Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein who came up with the idea of partnering writer Fields with composer Berlin. The show was a hit with both audiences and the critics, running for three years on Broadway before transferring to London’s West End and Australia. The Union Theatre production is based on the 1999 Broadway revival which featured Bernadette Peters and was re-worked by Peter Stone to take into account modern sensibilities.
Featuring classic songs ‘There’s No Business Like Showbusiness’, ‘Anything You Can Do’, and ‘I Got The Sun in the Morning’, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN boasts music and lyrics by Berlin and a book by Dorothy Fields. The Union production is directed by Kirk Jameson and choreographed by Ste Clough (himself a #StageFave) with musical direction by Alex Bellamy and design by Amy Watts.
